Conservative or Liberal, Deist or Pagan, Jersey transplant or Lehigh Valley native, we're all in this mess together. Let's talk. Let us do no harm. Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne

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Monday, August 31, 2015

Why Is Nazareth Mayor Blowin' Oil?

Nazareth Mayor Carl Strye blocked me from his Facebook page some time ago for some reason. But a friend has sent me a rant Strye posted there yesterday, battling his foes with sports cliches. Someone better throw him up on a lift and find out why he's blowin' oil. Here's what he says.

There comes a time in ones life to throw up your arms and just give in. NOT ME! I am in it to win it. Throw what you want at me. There is always a bright light at the end of the tunnel and I know how to find it. I will not be intimidated or controlled! Take your best shot and most likely it will be your last.

I'm unsure exactly who his enemies are because he never names them. But he has made few friends among full time Nazareth police officers. He and Borough Council recently fired Adam Shimer, a military veteran and Nazareth resident, just days before his probation was set to expire. Officers from other police departments, many of whom know Shimer, consider him a good cop. They consider this termination "chickenshit" from a Mayor and Council intent on destroying good cops and replacing them with those who will do their bidding and let them know when the next gambling raid is coming and who is working undercover at the clubs.

I cover Hanover and Bethlehem Township for a local weekly. Elected officials there only get involved in police budgetary considerations. They leave police operations to the police. It's much different in Nazareth and many other small communities, where Mayors intercede in matters as minor as a parking ticket and many just happen to be involved in the social clubs.

Nazareth is currently facing three civil rights suits filed by current (Stephen Schleigh, Fred Lahovski) and former (Connie McGinniss) police officers. That alone should send off all kinds of warning signals that something is seriously amiss.

But that's not all.

A civil rights suit has also been been filed over the death of Timothy Nixon, who was battling mental illness and shot himself when part-time Officer Danny Troxell, a full-time wannabe and protege of Chief Thomas Trachta, barged into his apartment building.

Nazareth Police Department and Troxell were sued over the use of excessive force on a man who was repeatedly tased while handcuffed, inside of a police vehicle. That matter was settled prior to trial. (Hendricks v. Swan, et al., Eastern District of Pennsylvania, # 11-cv-7394).

Chief Thomas Trachta and Troxell unlawfully prosecuted three Borough residents for exercising their First Amendment rights by allegedly posting small postage stamp stickers urging the dismissal of Chief Trachta. Magisterial District Judge Jackie Taschner admonished Trachta that sometimes, “You have to suck it up, cupcake.”

Officer Lahovski's complaint, which has survived a Motion to Dismiss, details a series of unlawful retaliatory actions taken by the Nazareth and Trachta. They show an utter disregard for the constitutional and legal rights of residents and some individuals within the Department. Officer Schleig's lawsuit is a mirror image, listing all kinds of retaliatory actions taken against him for union activity, including the refusal to provide a proper uniform.

Now Borough Council did order an investigation into its police department’s operations. But they rejected the report when it came back highly critical of them and the Chief. When I confronted Council over this study, they denied its existence twice during open meetings.

When Nazareth hired Randy Miller as Deputy Chief, I though things would improve. They've grown worse. Now it's a top heavy department with too many chiefs. Miller did nothing to stop the unnecessary termination of Officer Shimer while civil rights violator Troxelll is allowed to come and go as he pleases. He appears to have been brought aboard as a union buster, not a police officer.

Nazareth condones and ratifies violations of Constitutional and legal rights by certain officers and the Chief. They have hired lawyers to scour the sagebush and bayous of southern circuit courts to find opinions friendly to their view, which seems to be that the Constitution has no application in Nazareth. They will fail.

Now that Shimer has been shoved aside, the door is open for Trachta to insert Troxell as a full-time officer.

Against this backdrop, I find it astonishing that Strye is lashing out the way he is.

Very few people are willing to publicly criticize elected officials. Most keep their heads down, while others become sycophants who blow smoke up the asses of these officials, instead of being honest with them.

On Strye's page, one of his cheerleaders actually states, "A lion doesn't need the approval of sheep."

That comment betrays a rather condescending opinion towards the people that any elected officials is supposed to serve. I always thought of government officials as servants, not lions.

33 comments:

Since you are on a mission from Satan to destroy Nazareth, it sounds like he is doing the right thing. Not everyone wants a town full of public property defacing, check stealing, druggies. Some folks like clean upstanding employed citizens who take pride in their town.

"It would seem that the Mayor of Nazareth has now me threats towards either Officer Shimer or Officer Schleig. Or both!"

I'm uncertain where those threats are directed, but they are an example of what is wrong in Nazareth. It is reasonable for all full-time officers to feel threatened. At least he did not call them arsonists. I believe the DCED report on Nazareth called on them to merge with another police department or abolish it. They won't do that bc they will lose the ability to insert themselvesand meddle with every day police decisions.

If you look at the mayors friends on face book, one quarter is family, one quarter consists of officers and stewards of all the clubs he protects, one quarter are business acquaintances and one quarter are convicted criminals and crooks who have been known by the town as people that have bad reputations and have been caught breaking the law but never charged. He is a real nice guy to those he protects. The problem is he sits among friends and has their backs, but what he doesn't realize is some of these people are out to take him down. Many of us just cannot wait to see that happen. Carl Strye is the last person that should be involved with police issues, this gives him the advantage to protect the people running the Nazareth clubs and he can give a heads up to anyone under investigation. The town council needs a wake up call. I use to have respect for those on council that I knew, but for too long, they look the other way instead of getting their hands dirty. Good job reporting, Bernie. I love reading what you write.

Bernie you are such a loser! Did you ever hear the saying "don't believe everything you hear " you have been fed such misleading information by Lahovsky and Shleig you don't even know what the truth is! These two guys are crybaby trouble makers and they use you as a pawn to try to get people to agree with their message! Lahovsky 's whole career has been nothing but trouble! I don't see you mentioning on here that he was terminated from several other area departments that he tried to ruin.... Did you forget about that? Shleig has no business even putting on a badge! He can hardly tie his shoes! I guess the three of you are deserving of each other though! You are all misfits of your profession! If Freddy and Shleig were not part of the NBPD I bet their would be no issues for you to run your mouth about! Why is none of the good things that the department does never on your blog? Is it because Freddy won't allow it? Grow Up! Ask this question all the time but never get a valid response ! As a citizen of this borough I hate that you try to desecrate our department! Everybody says they want a police department they can be proud of... Well newsflash your just as responsible for the negativity surrounding this department as anybody else ! You feed into lahovsky 's lie and publicize it! Once Shlieg and Lahovski get their lawsuits thrown out of federal court will you stop then! Support the department don't add to the controversy !!!!!!!!!Borough Resident

You accuse me of desecrating the police department, and do that right after you trash two of its full-time police officers. If anyone is desecrating the department, i suggest you look in a mirror. Lahovski's lawsuit has already survived a motion to dismiss, so I suspect it's not going away. What I am doing is exposing a top heavy department with too many chiefs and not enough boots on the ground. AndI sign my name instead of hiding behind a veil of anonymity like you.

Surviving a motion to dismiss is no win, loser. The standard for a motion to dismiss is that it cannot be granted unless, there is no way to recover damages UNDER ANY THEORY of law. The court must accept all facts pleaded as true, even if they are not true. That is what discovery is for. But as a disbarred loser, you missed this, of course.

For the people that really know Carl and what he stands for know exactly what he meant be his post on FB. Nothing to do with the losers in the police department at all. I have been following this mess and I know he is working to deal with all the issues within the police department. He has nothing to do with the law suits or the dismisal of Shimer. All of that is out of his control. I think he was actually for Shimer but knew he was defeated. I know for a fact he is aware of the people that want to "take him down". Surprisng names on that list. But if you look at that list, the word loser appears in front of all of their names. Especailly that tub of lard on South street that needs the fire department to pick her up everytime she falls down. I think he is an allright guy trying to do what he can for the best interest in Nazareth. I knew his father and know his mother, he comes from a good family.You have to give him a chance. I may be wrong, but I hope I am right.

12:26, Your recitation of the standard is inaccurate, and begs the question why a motion to dismiss was filed at all if it is so meaningless. The fact is that a motion to dismiss has failed, and the Lahovski lawsuit is moving forward. As for your personal attacks, those are the last refuge of those who have already lost the argument.

12:50, He is the Mayor, and remarks like the one he made are inappropriate. Since he chooses not to name his enemies, that leads everyone to wonder. You claim that Strye was for Shimer and then call him a loser, an epithet you give to two current police officers as well as a man who killed himself. You claim Srye was for Shimer. He is the Mayor and runs the police department. He should have stepped in over what is clearly chicken shot bright by a preening marionette looking to shove Shimer out of the way for one of his stooges. Where is Strye's leadership? I see no roaring lion.

Bernie I must why you continue to side with Shleig and lahovsky? Lahovsky has been detrimental to every agency he ever worked for!!! Shleig is a good person that like yourself got wrapped up in Lahovsky 's bullshit and now has ruined his career! Lahovsky is a trouble maker and a person that gives the union a bad name! Being a former co worker of his Iam sure if he leave Nazareth a Borough it will again be one of the elite agencies in Northampton County! As far as Shleig its ashame he bought into Lahovky'd antics because as like Lahovsky he will now never be able to get a job again! Congrats Freddy you caused turmoil at another agency! The good news is this is your last stop!

That's amazing, because the only two officers in the departmentthat seem to continue getting themselves into lawsuits is Chief Trachta and Officer Troxell. How many are we up too four, how many more are headed out way three or four? All involving the same two people.

As for your anonymous derision of Lahovski, I can state that I took a very long and hard look at him. My conclusion is that he is among the best, if not the best, police officer I have ever encountered. Even his detractors acknowledge that Lahovski has a superior intellect, but consider him divisive. I do know that he caused some waves on the forces in BT and CRPD, and that is primarily bc he cares just a bit too much. Some of his former foes on those departments still speak very highly of him to me. It's very unfortunate that Nazareth chooses to fight with him instead of working with him. Yes, he is high strung, but so are all thoroughbreds. Don;t forget this is a man who has saved lives. That means something to me.

Officer Schleig is a walking, talking boy scout. The guy does not curse, is very straightlaced, and is just trying to do his job. For that he is belittled and berated. He is a sworn police officer and should be recorded the respect and dignity to which any person is entitled.

Officer Shimer never had a chance. The second he was hired, Trachta was out to get him. It's sad to hear that Strye was rooting for this guy bc he did nothing to stop the termination of a veteran and Nazareth resident whose life ambition was to be a cop in his home town.

Officer Koch is also treated like garbage, and has learned to avoid everyone.

What do these guys have in common. They are the full-timers, the ones eligible to be in a union.

How can you say Lahovski and Schleig careers are ended. They both work full-time as police officers with Nazareth Borough P.D. They have protection of Act 111, police FOP union and now a retaliation law suit should anyone attempt to discipline them. I think their careers are rock solid, enter protected by 100 yards of concrete and steel post. They are untouchable provided they don't commit a crime. Even then, it depends of who is fabricating the evidence! Chief Cupcake or Officer Deputy dog Troxell.

Again, why are Nazareth police at any NASD school? The school district has its own police force. The borough's resources should be used for borough activities. Unless there is an incident and the NASD officers(former pa state police) call for backup. This is especially true if there were officers that did not show up for their shift.

Again, why are Nazareth police at any NASD school? The school district has its own police force. The borough's resources should be used for borough activities. Unless there is an incident and the NASD officers(former pa state police) call for backup. This is especially true if there were officers that did not show up for their shift

Have no horse in this race and don't know any of the players, but from an outside perspective the whole thing is a dysfunctional mess. Needs a complete and total tear down and rebuild.

No matter who is right or wrong in that department there is just WAY too much drama for such a small community and force and hopefully the borough leadership can look past alliances with one side or the other, recognize that and do what's best for the community and start things over.